Dulce de Leche Sweetened Condensed Milk Recipe (2024)

Published: · Modified: by Megan Porta · This post may contain affiliate links.

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Dulce de Leche sweetened condensed milk recipe is made using only ONE ingredient. This delicious sweet sauce pairs well with baked goods!

Dulce de Leche Sweetened Condensed Milk Recipe (1)

Original post: December 2017 | Updated: May 2021

Why This Recipe Works

When you think of Homemade Dulce de Leche, do you envision yourself sweating over a hot stove, fumbling with a candy thermometer and feeling hot, bubbling caramel splatter on your arms?

Because it is the opposite of that. Homemade Dulce de Leche requires one ingredient: a single can of sweetened condensed milk!

ONE ingredient and very limited effort is required to create this irresistible caramel sauce. Crazy, right?! There are so many delicious things to do with Dulce de Leche!

Recipe Ingredients

Sweetened condensed milk – That’s it! One ingredient that is probably already sitting in your pantry. You can’t mess that up, right?

How To Make Dulce de Leche Sweetened Condensed Milk Recipe

Step 1

Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. Pour sweetened condensed milk into a round baking dish. Cover tightly with foil and set inside a 9×13 baking dish. Pour water into the outer pan (should reach 1 to 2 inches from bottom of pan).

Dulce de Leche Sweetened Condensed Milk Recipe (2)

Step 2

Place into the preheated oven and bake for 90 minutes, or until the milk has turned into a deep caramel color. Remove from the oven and whisk until creamy. Let cool and store in sealed containers in the fridge.

FAQ About Dulce de Leche

Can dulce de leche be frozen?

It must be placed in an airtight container (not glass) and can be frozen for up to three months. When you are ready to use the sauce, allow it to thaw completely in the fridge before using. Pour it into a skillet and heat, stirring, until smooth.

What does dulce de leche mean?

A direct translation of the Spanish phrase “dulce de leche” is sweet from milk. It refers to heating sweetened milk until it caramelizes.

Is dulce de leche caramel?

Dulce de leche closely resemblescaramel. The difference is thatdulce de lecheis made using sweetened condensed milk (milk + sugar) andcaramelis made using sugar and water.

What to do with dulce de leche?

Dulce de leche can be used as a filling or topping for baked goods such as cupcakes or sandwich cookies. It can also be used as an ice cream topping, as a topping for donuts or a crepe filling.

Dulce de Leche Sweetened Condensed Milk Recipe (3)

What To Do With Dulce De Leche

  • Drizzle it over an Oreo Caramel Frozen Yogurt Cake.
  • Add it to a few scoops of ice cream.
  • Sandwich it between Chocolate Cookies.
  • Pour it into a mason jar and gift it so a loved one!

Other Sweet Sauces

  • Just 4 ingredients needed to make your own Salted Caramel Sauce. Top or fill your next batch of baked goods with this delicious, irresistible sauce. You will need to resist the temptation to eat it by the spoonful!
  • Easy Blueberry Sauce is super easy to make and goes great on pancakes, waffles or works great as a pie filling!
  • Apple Butter is worth the wait! After you enjoy picking your favorite assortment of sweet and tart apples, you can add just a few spices to the rest of the ingredients and let it simmer.
  • Crockpot Applesauce – Homemade applesauce is fun to make and tastier than the store stuff! Let your slow cooker do the work so kids and adults alike can have a healthy snack!

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Dulce de Leche Sweetened Condensed Milk Recipe (4)

Dulce de Leche Sweetened Condensed Milk Recipe

Dulce de Leche sweetened condensed milk recipe is made using only ONE ingredient. This delicious sweet sauce pairs well with baked goods!

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Course: Dessert, Sauce

Cuisine: Mexican

Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 1 hour hour 30 minutes minutes

Servings: 12

Calories: 106kcal

Author: Megan Porta

Ingredients

  • 14 oz sweetened condensed milk
  • 2 cups water

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. Pour sweetened condensed milk into a round baking dish. Cover tightly with foil and set inside a 9×13 baking dish. Pour water into the outer pan (should reach 1 to 2 inches from bottom of pan).

  • Place into the preheated oven and bake for 90 minutes, or until the milk has turned into a deep caramel color. Remove from the oven and whisk until creamy. Let cool and store in sealed containers in the fridge.

Notes

Homemade Dulce de Leche must be placed in an airtight container (not glass) and can be frozen for up to three months. When you are ready to use the sauce, allow it to thaw completely in the fridge before using. Pour it into a skillet and heat, stirring, until smooth.

Nutrition

Calories: 106kcal | Carbohydrates: 18g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 3g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 11mg | Sodium: 44mg | Potassium: 123mg | Sugar: 18g | Vitamin A: 88IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 95mg | Iron: 1mg

Did you make this recipe?If you loved this recipe, please rate the recipe and leave a comment below!

« Mini Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe

Dulce de Leche Chocolate Sandwich Cookies »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Dulce de Leche Sweetened Condensed Milk Recipe (5)Jennifer

    There’s even a easier way to make it, put the can of milk in a pan of water be sure to keep the can covered with water at all times, then boil for 1 to 1 1/5 hours. Let the can cool before opening.

    Reply

    • Dulce de Leche Sweetened Condensed Milk Recipe (6)Megan Porta

      Ooo, I am going to try this! Thanks for the tip, Jennifer!
      Megan

      Reply

  2. Dulce de Leche Sweetened Condensed Milk Recipe (7)Val

    NOT EVEN CLOSE…. To the real Argentinian Dulce de Leche…. Or the Mexican Cajeta, for that matter. That's just caramel sauce….

    Reply

  3. Dulce de Leche Sweetened Condensed Milk Recipe (8)Del

    Hello! I just wanted to tell you that I'm argentinean, wich means I'm from the land of dulce de leche! (Yes, lucky one here)
    This recipe is quite good, and I have tried it many times,and although it's not quite like real dulce de leche, the taste is nonetheless amazing.

    Reply

  4. Dulce de Leche Sweetened Condensed Milk Recipe (9)Megan

    You can also make it by boiling the can of condensed milk for 3 hours in a pot of boiling water. Works really well!

    Reply

  5. Dulce de Leche Sweetened Condensed Milk Recipe (10)Megan Porta

    Hi Helen! I wanted to give people the option of not having to purchase it. It is so easy to make…so, why buy?! 🙂
    Megan

    Reply

  6. Dulce de Leche Sweetened Condensed Milk Recipe (11)Helen

    You can buy this in the can aleady made in the Mexican food isle.

    Reply

  7. Dulce de Leche Sweetened Condensed Milk Recipe (12)Dani

    This is a great way to use oven space while making something else with a neutral smell in there. It saves on having to make it on the stove top for over an hour. Thank you for the tip.

    Reply

  8. Dulce de Leche Sweetened Condensed Milk Recipe (13)Pip

    I would say it would keep for 2 weeks, tightly sealed in the fridge. Glad you enjoyed it!

    Reply

  9. Dulce de Leche Sweetened Condensed Milk Recipe (14)a person

    I made this today, and it's absolutely amazing, better than caramel!! But would you happen to know how long it keeps if i put it in a jar and stick it in the fridge?

    Reply

  10. Dulce de Leche Sweetened Condensed Milk Recipe (15)Dee

    That looks delicious! Definitely something I need to do soon, I love dulce de leche 😀

    Reply

  11. Dulce de Leche Sweetened Condensed Milk Recipe (16)Parsley Sage

    ohmigosh, you've just made my week.

    Reply

  12. Dulce de Leche Sweetened Condensed Milk Recipe (17)Blog is the New Black

    Yum! Looks delicious!

    Reply

  13. Dulce de Leche Sweetened Condensed Milk Recipe (18)S from work

    Girl I wish I never would have read that. Oh my – i will be putting that on EVERYTHING!
    LOVE IT – Thanks tons!

    Reply

Leave a Reply

Dulce de Leche Sweetened Condensed Milk Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Is dulce de leche just sweetened condensed milk? ›

The difference between condensed milk and dulce de leche is the caramelization of the sugars that are both added and part of milk,” Sibley says. “Typically, condensed milk remains white and has a lighter consistency and taste than dulce de leche.

Is it safe to boil a can of sweetened condensed milk? ›

Is it safe to boil my can of sweetened condensed milk to make caramel sauce? No. For safety reasons, we do not recommend heating a can of our condensed milk, opened or unopened. The current can is not designed to withstand high temperatures.

Does boiling a can of condensed milk turn into caramel? ›

Place the milk over the boiling water in the double boiler and cover with a lid. Bring it to a simmer over medium heat. Stirring occasionally, simmer for one-and-a-half to two hours, until the milk becomes thick and reaches the desired caramel color.

Does dulce de leche need to be refrigerated? ›

Keep in a cool dry place. Do not freeze. Refrigerate after opening.

What is a good substitute for dulce de leche? ›

Technically, if you see dulce de leche in a recipe, you can instead use caramel, and vice-versa. However, there will be a slight variance in taste and texture, and the recipe will no longer be authentic to the specified region.

Is Nestle caramel the same as dulce de leche? ›

Caramel and dulce de leche might look and taste somewhat similar, but they are actually pretty different. While caramel is made from slowly simmering water and sugar until it caramelizes, dulce de leche is made from simmering milk and sugar super slowly until it turns into a creamy, caramelized substance.

What is it called when you boil sweetened condensed milk? ›

Dulce de Leche is a heavenly substance. At first glance, it looks a little like caramel, but it's actually sweetened milk that's been heated long enough to cause a caramelizing to occur. That's the long-winded explanation, so here's the short one: It's creamy, dreamy substance used as an ingredient in so many desserts.

Why do you add baking soda to condensed milk? ›

Baking soda is optional, but it makes the Condensed Milk really creamy. Use 1/2 cup water for very thick consistency or 3/4 cup water for normal consistency. Allow to cool before using. Store in the refrigerator.

Why do people boil condensed milk? ›

It Makes Dulce de Leche

Condensed milk is the one ingredient you need for dulce de leche. Heat and time transform a can into Latin America's favorite thick and rich caramel sauce, dulce de leche. You don't even need to open the can!

What does boiled condensed milk taste like? ›

It's a thick, creamy, perfectly sweet confection made be heating sweetened milk. It has a beautiful nutty color and wonderful depth of flavor, which I would describe as a milky caramel. Dulce de leche is a really versatile ingredient you can use in cakes, cupcakes, sundaes and on cookies.

Is la lechera the same as sweetened condensed milk? ›

LA LECHERA Fat-Free Sweetened Condensed Milk has the same creamy, sweet taste as the original product without the fat. Also, containing half the sugar and half the calories of sweetened condensed milks, LA LECHERA 50% Less Sugar is the condensed milk category's only reduced sugar item.

Why is my dulce de leche watery? ›

The longer you cook, the thicker and darker the dulce de leche will be. For a light and runny dulce de leche, cook for 2.5 hours, for a dulce de leche that is easy to pipe and holds its shape, cook for 3.5 to 4 hours.

What happens if you overcook dulce de leche? ›

Overcooking Dulce de Leche will make it too thick and maybe even taste burnt.

What is the same as dulce de leche? ›

Caramel. Caramel sauce and dulce de leche look and taste extremely similar. In fact, they can be interchangeable in certain recipes.

Is evaporated milk the same as dulce de leche? ›

Sweetened condensed milk has sugar in it whereas evaporated milk does not. The process of turning sweetened condensed milk into dulce de leche is simply to extract the water from the milk leaving behind the fat and sugar to caramelize.

What is the Mexican version of condensed milk? ›

La Lechera® Sweetened Condensed Milk.

Is Carnation caramel dulce de leche? ›

Carnation Caramel

Caramel is a ready-made authentic Dulce de Leche caramel that is easy to use in baking and as a topping.

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